Apparatus for rapidly effecting metallurgical operations



June 1'7, 119 41. A. GREFF E LY EFFEGTING METALLURGICAL OPERATIONS APPARATUS FOR RAPID 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Mar ch a, 1959 INVENTOR A nd/"e Greffe June 17, 1941. A. GREFFE APPARATUS FOR RAPIDLY BFFECTING METALLURQI Filed March a," 1939 CAL OPERATIONS 2 SheetsQ-Sheet 2 INVIENT'O R Andre Gre ff 6 Patented June 17, 1941 APPARATUS FOR RAPIDLY EFFECTING METALLURGICAL OPERATIONS Andre Grefle, La Bathle, Savoie, France, assignor to Socicte dEleetrochimie, dElectrometallurgie et des Acieries Electriques d'Ugine, Paris, France, a corporation of France Application March 8, 1939, Serial N 0. 260,578 In France March 15, 1938 4 Claims.

This invention relates, to an apparatus for rapidly effecting metallurgical operations.

'Apparatusesfor the use of the same are already known, by means of which through successive and alternate pourings of a metal and a slag from a vessel into another and conversely, an intimate intermixing of the slag with the metal is obtained which permits to perform rapid reactions between the metal and the slag but with such a kind of apparatus the metal and slag are subjected to intermittent intermixings which are separated by periods during which the contents of the apparatus remains steady under-the 'iorm of two superimposed layers. On the other hand, owing to the form of such apparatuses the lining of the same is submitted .to comparatively important erosion efiects.

Again such an apparatus is cumbersome, heavy and expensive in its construction, it requires a prise a rotatable lined receptacle having in crosssection approximately the shape of an ellipse and the longitudinal, axis of which is much longer than its small axis. the receptacle is formed of two rectangular spaces the longer axes of which are at right angles. The

through the side wall of the apparatus. In another apparatus, thereacting chamber is rectangular but its lining is composed of two difierent materials separated from each other and the,ap-

paratus is tilted or rotated only for receiving the metal in one or alternately in the other part of the chamber. The driving mechanism is located on the side of the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to produce an intermixing between reacting'materials in a practically continuous manner without any-interruption, which efiectuates the reaction in a very short time.

Another object of the invention is to efiect the intermixing through a-continuous'rotary movement which can be obtained readily and in a manner which is not expensive.

, A further object or the invention is to provide an apparatus the inner form or which is a simple one which comprises no projecting part, which facilitates in a large measure the making and the In one or these apparatuses,

maintaining of the fireproof lining and leads to easy repairs of the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the pouring oi the metal and of the slag can be effected in a very convenient manner without necessitating complicated mechanism or pits of a great depth and of large longitudinal or transverse dimensions or which necessitate the ladle to be partially or totally brought under the reacting chamber.

Again an object of the invention is an apparatus which is simple in construction and which can be worked with small power.

Again a further object of the invention is to provide an intermixing apparatus which can be easily charged and tapped off at its iront end.

Again a still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be provided with a'very large charging opening and with a tapping of the slag and of the metal takes place small tapping aperture disposed in such a manner that the charging opening can be alternately used for charging the materials to be treated and to tap oif slag formed or introduced into the apparatus while the metal is separately tapped through the tapping aperture.

Again a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which metallurgical operations can be carried out without any external heat, the reactants being nevertheless maintained at a conveniently high casting temperature.

A still further object of the invention is an apparatus which is very robust in its construction in every respect and which can be easily repaired.

not only as concerns the mechanical part thereof but also the lining of the reaction chamber.

Again another object of the invention is an apparatus which can be emptied very rapidly and thoroughly of its contents by mere gravity.

A further object of the invention is an apparatus which provides for an easy and perfect separate tapping off of two layers of molten sub- I apparatus stances or compounds contained therein.

Again another object of the invention is an Y which is absolutely safe in its operation.

It has been found according to the present invention that it was possible to obtain rapid re- I actions of the metal on the slag by causing a mass and decreasing speeds in a vessel having an approximately oval or elliptic form and to which a continuous movement of rotation about the small I axis of the oval or the ellipse is imparted. The

variations oi the raising and tumbling down speed 2 v of the mass in movement in the apparatus due to the varying distances of the fluid mass from the axis of rotation of the apparatus give rise to important interpenetrations oi the metal and of the slag if the speed of rotation of the apparatus is chosen between two limits for one of which, the lower one, the metal and the slag simply flow in two layers which slide one upon another without interpenetrating themselves and for the other of which, the upper one, the metal remains pressed by the centrifugal force against the wall of the apparatus, while the slag forms an inner layer which is applied onto the metal with which it does not mix. Between both these extreme limits which depend on the character of the metal. on its specific weight, of its viscosity as well as on similar properties of the slag, the interpenetration of the metal and the slag ta es place with an intensity which increases when one departs from the above mentioned limits and reaches in each particular case for the metal and the slag a maximum for a speed of rotation of the apparatus,which.ti the optimal speed, that is to say the speed for which the intended reaction between the metal and the slag takes place in the shortest time. This speedisdeterminedbytestsin each case.

Owing to the form of the apparatusan almost continuous interpenetration of the metal and of the slag takes place, which the duration of the operation; on the other hand the deteriorations oi the lining of the vessel are It is possible to give to the walls of the vessel a, form which is not exactly oval or elliptical, but

rather double trapezoidal frusto-pyramid with rounded connections on the inner sides as shown more particularly in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The comparatively sharp variations of, curvature which result from this form increase the eddies which are favourable for the rapidity of the operation.

This invention relates to the above described apparatus and still more particularly to an apparatus of this kind in which the vessel is mounted on a horizontal shaft for its rotation through the F ging off. At

' medium of a fork which. is fast with the said shaft and on the arms of which the vessel is mounted by means of trunnions the axis of which is perpendicular to the rotation shaft which carries the fork. The great axis of the vessel is perpendicular to the axis of the trunnions. Thus the vessel can receive two movements of rotation, one about the principal shaft of rotation of the apparatus and trunnions.

The apparatus comprises an opening for charging the. materials which it is desired to cause to react upon each othe This opening, which can also serve as a pouring spout for the slag or even for the metal is provided, for instance, in the side wall of' the vessel mid-way from the trunnions and substantially mid-way of the height of the vessel. A casting hole can be provided opposite to the above mentioned char i l hole.

It is thus possible to place the vessel in all the possible positions and more positions corresponding to the charging and casting operations.

The appended drawings show by way of example an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevatlonal view of the apparatus;

theother'about the axis of the particularly in the Figure2isatop planview:

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line A-A of Figure 1, parts being shown in elevation;

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sections of the vessel taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but on an enlarged scale and illustrating two diflerent positions of the vessel. In Figure 4, the vessel is in position for casting the vessel is in position for The apparatus as shown in the drawings and in this embodiment comprises a vessel I- mounted through trunnions 2-2 on a fork I integral with an axis 4 and driven by a prime mover I through the medium of gears I, 8.

The vessel is formed of a metal housing I on an inner lining of fire-proof material 0. An opening is provided at "for charging and for slag- I (see Figure 4) is provided a tap hole ior tapping oi! the metal. The details of thisholearenotshowninFlgureo.

Theinsideoithevessel I hastheformofa double trapezoidal frusto-pyramid with rounded connections at Ia, lb, Ic, Id, asshown in Figures 3, 4 and 5;

slagging oil.

In order to perform rapid reactions for instance between a molten metal and a molten slag, the molten metal and the molten sins are first introduced into the vessel I which has been placed in a vertical position as shown in Figure 1 (great axis of the vertical oval section in a vertical plane, both of the armsofthe-iorklinahorisontal plane). The quantity of molten metaland of molten slag which is introduced into the vessel mustbesuchthattheleveloithebathwillbe distinctly below the casting or chargin opening.

As soon as the charging operation is eiiected the vessel I is rotated about the principal axis of rotation 4 of the system. It is then found that when the speed of rotation has reached a sufficient value an excellent stirring is produced between the molten metal and the molten slag with an almost continuous interpenetration of the particles of -metal and of This speed of rotation depends amongst others on the dimensions I of the apparatus. It depends also on the relative densities of both phases which are present. It is readilydetermined through a previous test-in eachparticular case.

By way of example, for an apparatus comprising a vessel I the inner section oi which has the I molten metal and a slag which is also molten,

satisfactory results are obtained with a speed of rotation of about thirteen R. P. M.

The advantages of the apparatus of the described-kind are as follows:

1. The intermixing between the reacting materialsis produced in a practically continuous manner without any interruption, which permits to eflectuate the reaction in a very short time.

2. This intermixing is eifected through a continuous rotary movement which can be obtained readily and in a manner which is not expensive.

3. The inner form of the vessel is a simple one which comprises no projecting part, which facilitates in a large measure the making and the maintaining of the fireproof lining. Repairs can be made without diiiiculty and are not expensive.

4. The pouring of themetal and of the slag can be eiiected in a very convenient manner. Figure 4 shows the position which should be given to the vessel for pouring the metal. Figure 5 shows the position which should be given for removing the metal. In Figure 5,

the slag while leaving the metal in the apparatus. These positions can be given through a rotation in one direction or in the other of the vessel I about the trunnions 2 by means of a flywheel I! after having removed the pin l3, the principal axis of rotation of the system, i. e. the axis I, being then in such a position that the arms of the fork 3 are in a horizontal plane.

Figure-5 shows clearly how it is particularly easy to remove from the metallic bath the slag floating upon this bath. Owing to the comparatively important depth'and to the comparatively small section of the volume which is occupied by the metal bath and the. slag in this position, it will be possible, through a simple pouring operation, to remove almost the totality of the slag without any risk of carrying away a considerable proportion of the metal with the slag. This is particularly desired in the case when the volume of the treated metal is small with respect to the volume of the slag.

If the apparatus is provided with aspecial pouring opening for pouring the metal, as shown in Figure 4, it is easily conceived that it is possible to pour the metal by giving to the apparatus the position indicated in this figure.

The reaction chamber of the apparatus can be given an inner form which is oval, elliptical or preferably double trapezoidal with rounded connections of the inner walls.

The comparatively sharp variations of curvature which result from this form increase the eddies which are favorable for an adequate intermixing of the contents of the apparatus.

In all the preceding description reactions between a molten metal and a molten slag have been mentioned, but the use of the apparatus is by no way limited to reactions of this kind. The apparatus can-be used as well for all the other reactions as, for instance, between a molten metal and solid bodies which may be fusible or not fusible and which dissolve or do notdissolve in the metal, in which latter case the solid body must be introduced into the apparatus preferably in the form of pieces or of a powder.

It is also possible, instead of introducing the metal and the slag in a molten state into'the apparatus, to introduce the metal in a molten state and the slag or slag elements the ones in a molten state and the others in a solid state; then the solid constituents dissolve in the slag in the course of the intermixing operation either owing -to the heat which is supplied by the metal or to the heat which is produced by the reactions themselves.

It is also possible to introduce the metal to be treated in totality or in part in a solid state.

In -a general manner it will be possibleto introduce fluid or solid elements in variable quantities in-a single portion or in a plurality of portions, provided that a fluid phase is present from the beginning or rapidly formed, the said phase having a sumciently large volume and heat being supplied by the introduced elements and/or by the reactions themselves in order that the temperature remains at a sufficient value until the end of the operation.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for performing rapid metallurgical operations between molten metal and a reacting substance, comprising a vessel having a symmetrical elongated form and the transverse sections of which decrease as regards their re spective areas from the middle part of the vessel toward the-ends thereof, the said vessel being being provided with a lateral opening at the level I of the transverse section which possesses the greater area and in a plane passing through the iongitudinalaxes of the vessel and of the shaft supporting the fork, means for rotating the vessel about its transverse axis to charge and discharge the vessel and means for looking it in its operative position to prevent its rotation about its transverse axis. i v

2. An apparatus for performing rapid metallurgical operations between molten metal and a reacting substance, comprising a vessel having a symmetrical elongated form and the transverse sections of which decrease as regards their respective areas from the middle part of the vessel towards the ends thereof, the said vessel being mounted in a fork on the free ends and between the arms of thesame about a. transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the fork being supported by and prolonging a horizontal shaft adapted to be continuously rotated at a constant speed, the vessel being laterally provided with a charging opening and with an opposed tapping aperture, both opening and aperture being located at the level of the transverse section which possesses the greater area and in a plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the vessel and of the shaft supporting the fork, means for rotating the vessel about its transverse axis to charge and discharge the vessel and means for looking it in its operative position to preventits rotation about its transverse axis.

3. An apparatus for performing rapid metallurgical' operations between molten metal and a reacting substance, comprising a vessel having a symmetrical elongated form and the transverse sections of which decrease as regards their respective areas from the middle part of the vessel towards the ends thereof, the said vessel being mounted in a fork on the free ends and between the arms of the same about a transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the fork being supported by and prolonging a horizontal shaft adapted to be 0011'. tinuously rotated at a constant speed, the vessel being laterally provided with a charging opening and with an opposed tapping aperture, both opening andaperture being located at the level of the transverse section which possesses the greater area and in a plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the vessel and of the shaft supporting the fork, means for rotating the vessel about its transverse axis to charge and discharge the vessel, means for locking itin its operative position to prevent its rotation about its translurgical operations between molten metal and a reacting substance, comprising a vessel having a symmetrical elongated form and the transverse sections of which decrease as regards their respective areas from the mid le part of the vessel 1 elsald vessel being towards the ends thereof,

4 means mounted in a fork on the tree ends and between oi the transverse section which n the the arms of the same about a transverse axis greater area and in a plane passing through the which is perpendicular t the longitudinal m lonxitudinal axes of the vessel and o! the shaft or the vessel, the tori: being supported by and sunnortina e f r me ns for rotation the vessel prolongin: a horizontal shaft adapted to be 5 about its transverse axis and means for rotating tinuoualy rotated at a constant speed. the vowel the being provided with a lateral opening at the level ANDRE GREFFE. 

